Scene Report: Manchester, January 2008
By: Gareth Roberts
The obligatory pre Christmas trips to the Star & Garter notwithstanding, all told, the winter months in Manchester are something of a hibernation period for many a music aficionado. Is it just me, or is it just to f**king cold? Sitting in watching consecutive series of The Wire and Curb Your Enthusiasm can be wildly appealing when compared to venturing out in the rain culminating in a death defying trip home on the night bus.
All of this is not to say I have been completely inert recently, in body as well as mind. I managed to take in a few gigs pre Christmas; The Young Knives, Sons & Daughters (pictured), Jens Lekman and The Mountain Goats all providing ample festive cheer. Sons & Daughters new record in particular I have found to be addictive listening. Yes, they've come over all pop star like, but if there is one thing I love it's a credible pop band, and these guys epitomise that label.
When I talk of exercising my mind, I am referring of course to the debate which seems to have split Manchester in a way not seen since the cavalry charge at the Peterloo massacre back in 1819; that is the new found mass popularity being generated by the Courteeners. To some the best thing since sliced bread, to others a profound two steps backward for Manchester music. Despite the division of opinion and my own personal tastes, I do feel that it is important for the city to have a band that can lay claim to Oasis' reign as Manchester's indie torchbearers, and Liam Fray et al certainly seem the most likely contenders for many a year.
Other city success stories of late include The Ting Tings (pictured) and The Answering Machine. The former a boy girl duo who have gone from performing gigs in a disused mill to playing Glastonbury and Later with Jools, next month they join the NME tour filling the opening slot otherwise known as the launchpad to superstardom, 2008 definitely looks like being an eventful year for them. The latter are another band looking to make waves in 08, having replaced their drum machine with a human - old school I know - they have recently been attracting the attentions of perennial indie-cool botherer and Dior supremo Hedi Slimane. Whether this is a good thing is another question, however if it helps generate a few supermodel hangers-on these guys could be giving the Courteeners a run for their money in the race to the nucleus of the nations' consciousness.
So, all in all 2008 looks set to be a good year for Manchester music. You wait years for a band and then three come along at once. Bloody typical.